(LRC Revised)

Number 17 of 1925

FIREARMS ACT 1925

REVISED

Updated to 1 August 2023

Changes to legislation

as of 10 July 2026, this Act is up to date with all changes known to be in force.

This Revised Act is an

administrative consolidation of the

Firearms Act 1925

. It is prepared by the Law

Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the

Law Reform Commission Act

1975

(3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and

consolidation of statute law.

All Acts up to and including the

Wildlife (Amendment) Act

2023

(25/2023), enacted 20 July 2023, and all statutory instruments up to and

including the

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (Commencement)

Order 2023

(S.I. No. 391 of 2023), made 28 July 2023, were considered in the

preparation of this Revised Act.

Disclaimer: While every care has

been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume

no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning

the

accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not

accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify

any

errors, omissions and comments by email to

revisedacts@lawreform.ie.

Number

17

of

1925.

FIREARMS ACT 1925

REVISED

Updated to 1 August

2023

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Section

1.

Definitions and

interpretation.

2.

Restrictions on possession,

use, and carriage of firearms.

2A.

Firearms training

certificate.

2B.

Restricted firearms and

ammunition.

2C.

Prohibited firearms and

ammunition.

2D.

Prohibition on acquisition or

possession of firearms classified in Category A of Directive.

2E.

Restriction on licensing of

certain firearms.

2F.

Revocation of firearm

certificate where holder found in possession of certain loading

devices.

3.

Grant, form, and effect of

firearm certificates.

3A.

Issue of guidelines by

Minister and Commissioner.

3B.

Payment of fees for prescribed

firearm certificates.

3C.

Arrangement for payment of

prescribed fees.

3D.

Restriction on licensing of

short firearms.

3DA.

Restrictions on firearm certificates for semi-automatic centre-fire rifles.

3E.

Commissioner to conduct annual

review.

4.

Conditions of grant of firearm

certificate.

4A.

Authorisation of rifle or

pistol clubs or shooting ranges.

4AA.

Minimum standards for Garda shooting ranges.

4B.

Firearms range

inspectors.

4C.

Prohibition of practical or

dynamic shooting.

5.

Revocation of firearm

certificates.

5A.

Reporting loss of firearm or

ammunition.

6.

Sale of firearm when

certificate refused or revoked.

7.

Permit to bring firearm

ashore.

8.

Persons disentitled to hold a

firearm certificate or a permit.

9.

Register of firearms dealers

to be kept.

9A.

Tax clearance.

10.

Restrictions on manufacture

and sale of firearms.

10A.

Reloading of

ammunition.

11.

Removal of names from register

of firearms dealers.

12.

Register to be kept by

firearms dealer.

13.

Inspection of stock of

firearms dealer.

14.

Prohibition of manufacture and

possession, etc., of weapons discharging noxious liquids.

14A.

Offences regarding alteration of marking of firearms.

15.

Possession of firearms with

intent to endanger life.

15A.

Appeal to District

Court.

16.

Restriction on export or

removal of firearms or ammunition.

17.

Restrictions on the import of

firearms, prohibited weapons, and ammunition.

18.

Powers of officers of customs

and excise.

19.

Powers and duties of officers

of the Post Office.

20.

Prohibition of taking firearms

or ammunition in pawn.

21.

Gárda

Síochána may search for and seize certain firearms,

etc.

22.

Powers of members of

Gárda Síochána.

23.

Forfeiture of firearms, etc.,

in certain cases.

24.

Search orders.

25.

Punishments.

25A.

Surrender of firearms and

offensive weapons.

25B.

Surrender of firearm for

ballistic testing.

25C.

Delegation of Commissioner's

functions.

25CA.

Delegation of

certain functions of Superintendent.

25D.

Liability of officers of

bodies corporate.

26.

Savings.

26A.

Regulations regarding disposal of certain firearms.

27.

Minister may make

regulations.

27A.

Laying of orders or

regulations before Houses of Oireachtas.

27B.

Provision of information by

Commissioner to Minister for purposes of Act and Firearms (Firearm

Certificates For Non-Residents) Act 2000.

28.

Partial continuance of

Firearms (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1924.

29.

Repeal.

30.

Short title and

commencement.

Acts Referred to

Firearms (Temporary Provisions) Act,

1924

No. 9 of 1924

Firearms (Temporary Provisions) (Continuance)

Act, 1925

No. 10 of 1925

Number

17

of

1925.

FIREARMS ACT 1925

REVISED

Updated to 1 August

2023

AN ACT TO PLACE RESTRICTIONS ON THE

POSSESSION OF FIREARMS AND OTHER WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION, AND FOR THAT AND OTHER PURPOSES

TO

AMEND THE LAW RELATING TO FIREARMS AND OTHER WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION. [6

th June

,

1925.]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS OF

SAORSTÁT ÉIREANN AS FOLLOWS:—

Annotations

Modifications (not altering

text)

C1

Application of collectively cited

Firearms Acts 1925 to 1990

extended (27.04.2022) by

European Union (Acquisition and Possession of Weapons

and Ammunition) Regulations 2022

(S.I. No. 209 of 2022), reg. 20.

Provisions of Firearms

Acts and other statutes

20. The provisions of the

Firearms Acts and other relevant statutes, including provisions relating to powers

of the Garda Síochána and Customs Officers, shall extend to a European Firearms

Pass or other document to which these Regulations relate and a reference in those

enactments to a firearm certificate shall, where the context so admits, include

reference to any such document.

C2

Functions transferred and references to “Department of

Finance” and “Minister for Finance” construed (29.07.2011) by

Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions)

Order 2011

(S.I. No. 418 of 2011), arts. 2, 3, 5 and sch. 1 part 2, in

effect as per art. 1(2).

2. (1) The administration

and business in connection with the performance of any functions transferred by

this Order are transferred to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

(2) References to the

Department of Finance contained in any Act or instrument made thereunder and

relating to the administration and business transferred by paragraph (1) shall, on

and after the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

3. The functions conferred

on the Minister for Finance by or under the provisions of —

(

a

) the enactments

specified in Schedule 1, and

(

b

) the statutory

instruments specified in Schedule 2,

are transferred to the

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

...

5. References to the

Minister for Finance contained in any Act or instrument under an Act and relating

to any functions transferred by this Order shall, from the commencement of this

Order, be construed as references to the Minister for Public Expenditure and

Reform.

...

Schedule 1

Enactments

...

Part 2

1922 to 2011 Enactments

Number and

Year

Short Title

Provision

(1)

(2)

(3)

...

...

...

No. 17 of 1925

Firearms Act

1925

Sections 3B, 3C,

4B(6) and 27

...

...

...

C3

Application of Act extended (28.01.1964) by

Firearms Act 1964

(1/1964), s. 5, commenced on enactment.

Contravention of orders

under sections 3 and 4.

5.

—A person

who contravenes a provision of an order under section 3 or section 4 of this Act

shall be guilty of an offence under the Principal Act.

C4

Exemption for certain proofs in relation to prosecutions under Act

provided (28.01.1964) by

Firearms Act 1964

(1/1964), s. 24, commenced on

enactment.

Onus of proof.

24.

—

(1)

Where, in a prosecution

for an offence under the Principal Act, the existence or non-existence of a

firearm certificate, a licence under

section 17

of the Principal

Act, an authorisation under

section 2

of the Principal

Act, a permit under

section 3

of this Act or an authorisation under

section 13

of this Act is

material, it shall not be necessary to prove that the certificate, licence,

authorisation or permit does not exist.

(2)

Where, in a prosecution for an offence under the Principal Act, possession,

use or carriage of a firearm or ammunition by a person is proved, it shall not be

necessary to prove that the person was not entitled to have in his possession, use

or carry a firearm or ammunition.

Editorial Notes

E1

Previous affecting

provisions: application of collectively cited

Firearms Acts 1925 to 1990

extended (9.12.1993) by

European Communities (Acquisition and Possession of

Weapons and Ammunition) Regulations 1993

(S.I. No. 362 of 1993), reg. 8;

revoked (27.04.2022) by

European Union (Acquisition and Possession of Weapons

and Ammunition) Regulations 2022

(S.I. No. 209 of 2022), reg. 40(a).

E2

The possession of articles connected with certain offences under the

collectively cited

Firearms Acts 1925 to 1990

is also an offence as

provided (3.09.1998) by

Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998

(39/1998), s. 7(1), commenced on enactment and continued in force to 30.06.2013 by

motions of Dáil Éireann on 13.06.2012 and Seanad Éireann on

20.06.2012 in accordance with s. 18(2).

E3

Offences under collectively cited

Firearms Act 1925 to 1971

designated scheduled offences for the purposes of Part V of the

Offences

against the State Act 1939

(13/1939) (30.05.1972) by

Offences Against

The State (Scheduled Offences) Order 1972

(S.I. No. 142 of 1972).

E4

Previous affecting provisions: definition of firearm extended

(1.01.1991) by

Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990

(12/1990), s. 4(1),

S.I. No. 313 of 1990. Definition was replaced (1.08.2006) by

Firearms Act

1925

(17/1925), s. 1, as inserted (1.08.2006) by

Criminal Justice Act

2006

(26/2006), s. 26, S.I. No. 390 of 2006.

Annotations

Modifications (not altering

text)

C1

Application of collectively cited

Firearms Acts 1925 to 1990

extended (27.04.2022) by

European Union (Acquisition and Possession of Weapons

and Ammunition) Regulations 2022

(S.I. No. 209 of 2022), reg. 20.

Provisions of Firearms

Acts and other statutes

20. The provisions of the

Firearms Acts and other relevant statutes, including provisions relating to powers

of the Garda Síochána and Customs Officers, shall extend to a European Firearms

Pass or other document to which these Regulations relate and a reference in those

enactments to a firearm certificate shall, where the context so admits, include

reference to any such document.

C2

Functions transferred and references to “Department of

Finance” and “Minister for Finance” construed (29.07.2011) by

Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions)

Order 2011

(S.I. No. 418 of 2011), arts. 2, 3, 5 and sch. 1 part 2, in

effect as per art. 1(2).

2. (1) The administration

and business in connection with the performance of any functions transferred by

this Order are transferred to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

(2) References to the

Department of Finance contained in any Act or instrument made thereunder and

relating to the administration and business transferred by paragraph (1) shall, on

and after the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

3. The functions conferred

on the Minister for Finance by or under the provisions of —

(

a

) the enactments

specified in Schedule 1, and

(

b

) the statutory

instruments specified in Schedule 2,

are transferred to the

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

...

5. References to the

Minister for Finance contained in any Act or instrument under an Act and relating

to any functions transferred by this Order shall, from the commencement of this

Order, be construed as references to the Minister for Public Expenditure and

Reform.

...

Schedule 1

Enactments

...

Part 2

1922 to 2011 Enactments

Number and

Year

Short Title

Provision

(1)

(2)

(3)

...

...

...

No. 17 of 1925

Firearms Act

1925

Sections 3B, 3C,

4B(6) and 27

...

...

...

C3

Application of Act extended (28.01.1964) by

Firearms Act 1964

(1/1964), s. 5, commenced on enactment.

Contravention of orders

under sections 3 and 4.

5.

—A person

who contravenes a provision of an order under section 3 or section 4 of this Act

shall be guilty of an offence under the Principal Act.

C4

Exemption for certain proofs in relation to prosecutions under Act

provided (28.01.1964) by

Firearms Act 1964

(1/1964), s. 24, commenced on

enactment.

Onus of proof.

24.

—

(1)

Where, in a prosecution

for an offence under the Principal Act, the existence or non-existence of a

firearm certificate, a licence under

section 17

of the Principal

Act, an authorisation under

section 2

of the Principal

Act, a permit under

section 3

of this Act or an authorisation under

section 13

of this Act is

material, it shall not be necessary to prove that the certificate, licence,

authorisation or permit does not exist.

(2)

Where, in a prosecution for an offence under the Principal Act, possession,

use or carriage of a firearm or ammunition by a person is proved, it shall not be

necessary to prove that the person was not entitled to have in his possession, use

or carry a firearm or ammunition.

Editorial Notes

E1

Previous affecting

provisions: application of collectively cited

Firearms Acts 1925 to 1990

extended (9.12.1993) by

European Communities (Acquisition and Possession of

Weapons and Ammunition) Regulations 1993

(S.I. No. 362 of 1993), reg. 8;

revoked (27.04.2022) by

European Union (Acquisition and Possession of Weapons

and Ammunition) Regulations 2022

(S.I. No. 209 of 2022), reg. 40(a).

E2

The possession of articles connected with certain offences under the

collectively cited

Firearms Acts 1925 to 1990

is also an offence as

provided (3.09.1998) by

Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998

(39/1998), s. 7(1), commenced on enactment and continued in force to 30.06.2013 by

motions of Dáil Éireann on 13.06.2012 and Seanad Éireann on

20.06.2012 in accordance with s. 18(2).

E3

Offences under collectively cited

Firearms Act 1925 to 1971

designated scheduled offences for the purposes of Part V of the

Offences

against the State Act 1939

(13/1939) (30.05.1972) by

Offences Against

The State (Scheduled Offences) Order 1972

(S.I. No. 142 of 1972).

E4

Previous affecting provisions: definition of firearm extended

(1.01.1991) by

Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990

(12/1990), s. 4(1),

S.I. No. 313 of 1990. Definition was replaced (1.08.2006) by

Firearms Act

1925

(17/1925), s. 1, as inserted (1.08.2006) by

Criminal Justice Act

2006

(26/2006), s. 26, S.I. No. 390 of 2006.

Section

1.

Definitions and

interpretation.

2.

Restrictions on possession,

use, and carriage of firearms.

2A.

Firearms training

certificate.

2B.

Restricted firearms and

ammunition.

2C.

Prohibited firearms and

ammunition.

2D.

Prohibition on acquisition or

possession of firearms classified in Category A of Directive.

2E.

Restriction on licensing of

certain firearms.

2F.

Revocation of firearm

certificate where holder found in possession of certain loading

devices.

3.

Grant, form, and effect of

firearm certificates.

3A.

Issue of guidelines by

Minister and Commissioner.

3B.

Payment of fees for prescribed

firearm certificates.

3C.

Arrangement for payment of

prescribed fees.

3D.

Restriction on licensing of

short firearms.

3DA.

Restrictions on firearm certificates for semi-automatic centre-fire rifles.

3E.

Commissioner to conduct annual

review.

4.

Conditions of grant of firearm

certificate.

4A.

Authorisation of rifle or

pistol clubs or shooting ranges.

4AA.

Minimum standards for Garda shooting ranges.

4B.

Firearms range

inspectors.

4C.

Prohibition of practical or

dynamic shooting.

5.

Revocation of firearm

certificates.

5A.

Reporting loss of firearm or

ammunition.

6.

Sale of firearm when

certificate refused or revoked.

7.

Permit to bring firearm

ashore.

8.

Persons disentitled to hold a

firearm certificate or a permit.

9.

Register of firearms dealers

to be kept.

9A.

Tax clearance.

10.

Restrictions on manufacture

and sale of firearms.

10A.

Reloading of

ammunition.

11.

Removal of names from register

of firearms dealers.

12.

Register to be kept by

firearms dealer.

13.

Inspection of stock of

firearms dealer.

14.

Prohibition of manufacture and

possession, etc., of weapons discharging noxious liquids.

14A.

Offences regarding alteration of marking of firearms.

15.

Possession of firearms with

intent to endanger life.

15A.

Appeal to District

Court.

16.

Restriction on export or

removal of firearms or ammunition.

17.

Restrictions on the import of

firearms, prohibited weapons, and ammunition.

18.

Powers of officers of customs

and excise.

19.

Powers and duties of officers

of the Post Office.

20.

Prohibition of taking firearms

or ammunition in pawn.

21.

Gárda

Síochána may search for and seize certain firearms,

etc.

22.

Powers of members of

Gárda Síochána.

23.

Forfeiture of firearms, etc.,

in certain cases.

24.

Search orders.

25.

Punishments.

25A.

Surrender of firearms and

offensive weapons.

25B.

Surrender of firearm for

ballistic testing.

25C.

Delegation of Commissioner's

functions.

25CA.

Delegation of

certain functions of Superintendent.

25D.

Liability of officers of

bodies corporate.

26.

Savings.

26A.

Regulations regarding disposal of certain firearms.

27.

Minister may make

regulations.

27A.

Laying of orders or

regulations before Houses of Oireachtas.

27B.

Provision of information by

Commissioner to Minister for purposes of Act and Firearms (Firearm

Certificates For Non-Residents) Act 2000.

28.

Partial continuance of

Firearms (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1924.

29.

Repeal.

30.

Short title and

commencement.

Number

17

of

1925.